Many of you will have read alarming headlines in the past week. The Covid crisis crossing paths with sharks through the use of squalene as a common vaccine ingredient. With big figures quoted, the Trust is seeking clarification from key players. The demand for squalene, yet another facet of overfishing.
Sharks of the Mediterranean are incredibly diverse. But are also under serious threat from overfishing.
Tunisia is historically one of the region's key shark fishing nations. Yet, existing laws to control and manage shark fishing have still not been adopted. With intense competition between fishing boats, and a lack of awareness or policing, fishers are increasingly turning to sharks.
Find out more about our collaborative work in and around the Mediterranean here.
An extraordinary image! A run of salmon forming a heart-shaped shoal to evade a hungry shark wins top prize. The use of drones is a fast-growing phenomenon in the natural photography world. It’s a fantastic tool providing a unique birds-eye view of the often elusive lives of sharks and other wildlife. Check out the winning photo.
A Basking Shark tagged off County Clare in Ireland has been re-sighted nearly 4 months later off the west coast of Scotland! This is the third Irish tag to be recorded. Confirming the connectivity between Irish and Scottish waters for Basking Sharks.
Last week was the first official annual celebration of World Manta Day! Manta and Devil Rays are often caught in fisheries as bycatch. Their gill-rakers are highly prized, which makes them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Find out more about their biology and ecology with our ID guides.
During ‘lockdown’ many of us became pro's at online pub quiz questions like...what's the biggest fish in the sea? We all know that one, a Whale Shark right?! Don’t worry, your score cards remain intact. Now it's official. Scientists have proved that female Whale Sharks grow bigger (and slower) than male Whale Sharks!
Teams of scientists found that Smooth Hammerhead Sharks act like snowbirds! How? These sharks, like others, migrate to find the best ‘real estate’ of warmer waters and food rich areas at different times of the year. The more we know about migration patterns, the more we can help these threatened sharks.
An exciting new project from ‘MISS’, Minorities in Shark Science! These young marine biologists are working to create a diverse community for women of colour in science. MISS are breaking down barriers and creating space for equal opportunity. And asking us to look at shark research with fresh eyes.
One question we often get asked is, do sharks sleep? Well, a new study has proved that some certainly do! The behaviours of Port Jackson Sharks and Draughtsboard Sharks were tested for two signs of ‘true sleep’. Check out the article to find out more...
The total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide remains extremely low. But, in the unfortunate event when an incident does occur, it's devastating for all those involved. And raises many of the same questions. Dr Blake Chapman explains the huge number of factors that must be considered when trying to answer the ultimate question, ‘why did this happen?'
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